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Research has found that the coronavirus primarily spreads through droplets in coughs and sneezes.

However, Mirror Online reports that the virus can also survive on our shoes.

Researchers from the Academy of Military Medical Sciences took samples from 39 coronavirus patients at Huoshenshan Hospital, China.

They also took samples from the air in the hospital as well as the floors, computer mice, bins, sickened handrails, patient masks, personal protective equipment and the shoes of medical staff.

Results showed the high levels of the virus were found on the hospital floor.

The researchers, led by Zhen-Dong Guo, wrote: “The rate of positivity was relatively high for floor swab samples, perhaps because of gravity and air flow causing most virus droplets to float to the ground.

“In addition, as medical staff walk around the ward, the virus can be tracked all over the floor, as indicated by the 100% rate of positivity from the floor in the pharmacy, where there were no patients.”

As a result, many medical staff's shoes also tested positive for the virus.

Researchers said: “Half of the samples from the soles of the ICU medical staff shoes tested positive. Therefore, the soles of medical staff shoes might function as carriers.”

Researchers in the study are now urging medical staff to regularly wash and disinfect their shoes.